Agenda

Spring 2026 Conference Agenda

19th Annual California Corporate Finance Conference
Saturday, March 21, 2026

Continental Breakfast: 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. 

Opening Remarks: 9:30 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. 

Session 1: Innovation and Adaptation: 9:40 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. 

• Innovation Similarity and Post-Merger Innovation Outcomes: A Labor Perspective
  
  • Presenter: Hongrui Feng, Pepperdine University
  • Discussant: TBD

• Venture Capital and Adaptive Innovation: Evidence from Clinical Trial Diversity
  
  • Presenter: Young Jun Song, San Diego State University 
  • Discussant: TBD

 Break: 11:00 a.m. - 11:10 a.m.

 Session 2: Political Economy and Corporate Policy: 11:10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 

• The Elephant vs Donkey and Rank-and-file Employee Compensation
  
  • Presenter: Emily Kim, California State University San Marcos
  • Discussant: TBD
    
    
• Geopolitical Tension and Firm Scope 
  
  • Presenter: Ran Zhao, San Diego State University
  • Discussant: TBD

Lunch: 12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. 

Keynote Speaker: 1:15 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

• Distinguished Guest: Ran Duchin, Professor and Coughlin Family Professor at the Carroll School of Management, Boston College

Break: 2:00 p.m. - 2:10 p.m.

Session 3: Information and Strategy: 2:10 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. 

• Echoes of Inflation: CEO Early-life Inflation Experience, Inflation Attention, and Corporate Decisions
  
  • Presenter: Michael Shin, California State University Northridge
  • Discussant: TBD

• Analyst Sentiment in M&A Conference Calls
  
  • Presenter: Mo Fallah, California State University Fresno
  • Discussant: TBD

Break: 3:30 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.

Session 4: Intellectual Property and Firm Value: 3:40 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

• The Economics of Patent Licensing: Theory and Evidence on the Determinants and Consequences of Patent Licensing Transactions
  
  • Presenter: Xi Chen, San Diego State University
  • Discussant: TBD
    
    
• The Private Value of Open-Source Innovation
  
  • Presenter: Chan Lim, Pepperdine University
  • Discussant: TBD

Closing Remarks